Panama City Beach

Travel Guide

Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach showing signage
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is known for its soft white sand and sparkling waters, and thriving surf culture and stunning beaches.

Panama City Beach, along Florida’s Emerald Coast, has 27 miles (43.5 kilometers) of beautiful green water, crystal-quartz beaches, abundant sea life and many family-oriented attractions.

Walk along one of America’s most picturesque beaches or hang out in a local café. While it has undergone a period of rapid development in recent years, and high rises now dot the skyline, Panama City Beach still retains a laid-back atmosphere.

Surfers and sunbathers alike will find top spots to do their thing. If you’re not content to simply hit the surf, there are plenty of places to organize extreme sports excursions or rent a boat. Go parasailing, ride a Jet Ski or board a sailing boat.

Kids will love the many fun and water parks in town. Play golf and navigate the maze at Coconut Creek Family Fun Park or zoom down a slide at Shipwreck Island Water Park. To see some wildlife, take a trip to the ZooWorld Zoological Conservatory. If you’re in the town center and want a place to relax or kick a ball, check out Frank Brown Park. There are baseball and soccer fields, plenty of spaces for picnics, and the Panama City Beach Aquatic Center.

To explore less-developed parts of the shoreline, head to St. Andrews State Park. There are trails through the dunes, plenty of near-deserted beaches, the Grand Lagoon, and even camping grounds. For something a little more relaxed, hop on a tour boat to see some of the area’s famous sites. Spot dolphins as you head over to Shell Island. Small and deserted, it’s a place to collect shells, swim and fish. You can even renr a pontoon for the day.

Panama City Beach attracts thousands of vacationers every year. With a beach to match any other in the country, activities for leisure and thrill seekers alike, and an addictive beach-bum vibe, there’s no reason to wonder why.

Where to stay in Panama City Beach

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Rosemary Beach

Rosemary Beach is popular for its beaches, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Rosemary Beach or Alys Beach.

Rosemary Beach
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Inlet Beach

Inlet Beach is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Rosemary Beach and Camp Helen State Park.

Inlet Beach
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Seacrest Beach

While there might not be top attractions in Seacrest Beach, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.

Seacrest Beach
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WaterSound Beach

While visiting WaterSound Beach, you might make a stop by sights like South Walton Beaches and Seacrest Beach.

WaterSound Beach
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Alys Beach

While visiting Alys Beach, you might make a stop by sights like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.

Alys Beach
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Long Beach

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Long Beach and surrounding area, you can visit Ripley's Believe It or Not and WonderWorks.

Long Beach
Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
2 out of 5
17255 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
The price is €69 per night from 10 Feb to 11 Feb
€69
includes taxes & fees
10 Feb - 11 Feb
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,003 reviews)
"This is a very nice budget/friendly hotel. My rating is based on the price. If I were paying a lot for this, my rating would be very different. But, for what they are offering at the price they are offering it for, it’s well worth the money. To be beachfront with such nice pools, spacious and clean ..."

Reviewed on 5 Feb 2025

Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
Radisson Panama City Beach - Oceanfront
Radisson Panama City Beach - Oceanfront
3 out of 5
15325 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
Fully refundable
The price is €103 per night from 12 Feb to 13 Feb
€103
includes taxes & fees
12 Feb - 13 Feb
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7/10 Good! (1,804 reviews)
"Everything was good"

Reviewed on 7 Feb 2025

Radisson Panama City Beach - Oceanfront
Beachside Resort Panama City Beach
Beachside Resort Panama City Beach
2 out of 5
21905 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL
The price is €69 per night from 18 Feb to 19 Feb
€69
includes taxes & fees
18 Feb - 19 Feb
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,411 reviews)
Relaxing
"The view was amazing and the staff was super friendly. I went on a solo trip 7 hours from home, and felt safe the whole time !"

Reviewed on 7 Feb 2025

Beachside Resort Panama City Beach
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Landmark Holiday Beach Resort by VRI Americas
Landmark Holiday Beach Resort by VRI Americas
3.5 out of 5
17501 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (194 reviews)
"Loved it"

Reviewed on 29 Dec 2024

Landmark Holiday Beach Resort by VRI Americas
Laketown Wharf
Laketown Wharf
2 out of 5
9860 South Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this condo in Panama City Beach. Enjoy 3 outdoor pools, parking (surcharge), and a picnic area. Popular attractions Pier Park and Ripley's Believe It ...
7.2/10 Good! (34 reviews)
"Just needs new mattresses one side of the beds looked like it was sunk in but still slept well"

Reviewed on 7 Jan 2025

Laketown Wharf
Gulf-front condo with incredible view, balcony, arcade games, 3 pools & tennis
Gulf-front condo with incredible view, balcony, arcade games, 3 pools & tennis
Panama City Beach
Book a stay at this beach apartment in Panama City Beach. Enjoy a beach locale, a fitness center, and balconies. Popular attractions Shipwreck Island Waterpark ...
7.8/10 Good! (14 reviews)
Good location
"The place was nice for an older building. The location was great. The pools were nice. There were people near us smoking in the balconies and that was unpleasant. It's not something that can be controlled i guess. It was my main reason for coming to the beach was to relax on the balcony. something ..."

Reviewed on 10 Nov 2024

Gulf-front condo with incredible view, balcony, arcade games, 3 pools & tennis
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Panama City Beach

3.3
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
1
5 - Excellent 14%
4 - Good
2
4 - Good 29%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 43%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 14%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Wollten Minigolf spielen, das war so teuer, dass wir es sein liessen. Für eine 4-köpfige Familie 60 Dollar. Etwas zum Essen zu finden ist nicht ganz einfach. Es wimmelt von Hamburger-Schuppen, aber als Westeuropäer hat man das irgendwann gesehen

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Lovely beaches, lots of hotels and restaurants, St Andrews State Park was amazing, good base for exploring further east down the coast.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Looks like the ideal beach and location for teenagers/young adults. There are so many buildings right up along the beach. We prefer the other beaches in the area for our young family.